Retribution

Chapter 12 - Fight for this Life

"Don't act so surprised, darling. This is my house, too."

Unfortunately, because we jointly owned the house, I wasn't legally allowed to even change the locks after he'd left. Technically, I didn't even have the right to evict him from the house. He'd made it perfectly clear over the past five months that he'd left 'for the good of us' and to 'give me time to realise I needed him.' In other words, reminding me I hadn't kicked him out.

"What do you want?" I said, standing still. Despite my trained nature around him to be to run, I had to fight it. I had to stand up to him.

"I've come to see my wonderful girlfriend, of course. Sorry, fiancée."

"Ex," I said, feeling sick at the mention of the fact I had nearly tied myself to him legally.

He waved an index finger from side to side, tutting at me. "Oh no, no, no, no. We are not split up, sweetheart. We are just living in separate houses for a while. Until you realise you need me."

I snorted. "I don't need you, Adam. I would have thought five months might have made you realise that."

"Well," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "I know you're not the brightest at the best of times. Figured it would take you some time."

"And that right there is exactly why I don't want to be with you." I jabbed a finger through the air at him. "You don't respect me at all. I'm not your slave anymore, your punch bag or your sex toy."

"Ah, yes," he said, advancing towards me. "Speaking of sex toys. Who was that last night, hmmm? And just what exactly was he doing here until midnight?"

How did he know when Jake had left? The memory of the fox pinged to mind—something must have startled it for it to run out from under cover. I swallowed to try and relieve my drying throat.

"What did you do, Adam? Sit in the bushes all night?" I sniggered at him, mocking his desperate idiocy. "And what we did or didn't do is none of your business."

He shrugged his shoulders. "Needs must. You didn't answer my texts. I was concerned about you. When I saw the strange car, I felt I should stay just to make sure you were safe."

"Of course that was it. I forgot I've still got 'mug' written on my forehead."

"And as for you and him, if he's in my house, sweetie, it's very much my business what happens."

"Our house," I said, smiling at him.

"That—" he said, stopping when we were toe to toe "—is an excellent point. I think this is the perfect opportunity to inform you that I am moving back in. Clearly you're still in need of my guidance and help when it comes to making the correct decisions in your life."

My muscles began quivering of their own accord. This man had engrained such fear in me for so long, my body reacted on its own to his presence. I really was damaged goods.

He cocked his head to one side and scanned over my face. "I have to say this new fella must be rubbing off well on you. It looks like you've found a backbone. This will make things interesting."

Resisting the urge to wipe my sweaty palms on my bare legs, I stood my ground. "Leave me alone, Adam. I don't want you and I definitely don't need you."

Looking me up and down in my tatty shorts and crop top, he pulled his lips into a thin line. "How many men have you slept with since I moved out?"

"That is none of your business."

He raised an eyebrow. A trickle of hatred seeped into his eyes. I knew I'd just flipped his switch. In the blink of an eye, he grabbed my throat. He spun me around and pushed me up against the wall.